EP3634827B1

EP3634827B1 - Universal system for transporting removable freight modules

Info

Publication number: EP3634827B1
Application number: EP18750477.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Roman Aleksandrovich SAVUSHKIN; Kirill Valterovich KYAKK; Aleksandr Sergeevich KONONENKO; Aleksandr Viktorovich VLADIMIROV; Daniil Alekseevich LYALENKO
Original assignee: Rail 1520 Ip Ltd
Current assignee: Rail 1520 Ip LLC
Priority date: 2017-06-06
Filing date: 2018-06-05
Publication date: 2021-06-02
Anticipated expiration: 2038-06-05
Also published as: EA039763B1; RU2017119770A; WO2018224959A1; RU2017119770A3; RU2710119C2; CN111032473A; CN111032473B; PL3634827T3; EA202090012A1; ES2882906T3; EP3634827A1

Description

The invention relates to transportation of removable freight modules made in the form of quick-releasable and quick-mountable containers, frames, reservoirs, for transporting various types of cargo on a railway vehicle, for example, in the form of separate or articulated flatcars.
There is known a railway flatcar for transporting removable freight modules in the form of containers, wherein the railway flatcar comprises extendable fitting stops, fixing means for fixing removable freight modules on a flatcar, see KR Nº 20090100048 , B61D 3/20, published on 11 September, 2013.
There is known a system for transporting freight modules on railway rolling stock in the form of an articulated car, the system comprising elements for locating and fixing the removable freight modules, see RU Nº 2457968 , B61D 3/20, B61F 1/02, published on 10 August, 2012.
There is also known a removable freight modules transportation system in the form of railway rolling stock, used for installing, fixing and transporting removable freight modules configured to contain various types of cargo, wherein the railway rolling stock has elements for locating and fixing the removable freight modules, see patent RU Nº 82174 , B61D 3/08, published on 20 April, 2009 (prototype).
There is also known a railway wagon comprising two shock-receiving box structures installed on bogies and rigidly connected by a longitudinal member, said wagon having a detachable superstructure, having wedges interacting with cavities of the rolling stock and a centering stud interacting with other cavities provided in the shock-receiving box structures, see FR 2 250 657 A1 , B61F1/00, published on 9 November, 1973.
There is also known a railway wagon comprising an articulated flatcar having pivoting platforms with wedges, configured to transport containers that are installed on said pivoting platforms between the wedges so that the containers may turn in relation to the rolling stock when the wagon is passing curved tracks RU 170 576 U1 , B61D 17/00, published on 28 April 2016.
There is also known a railway wagon comprising an articulated flatcar having pivoting platforms with wedges, configured to transport containers that are installed on said pivoting platforms while the containers are secured on the wedges located on ends of the platforms using corner fittings installed on the containers DE 6945828 , B61D45/00, published on 29 June 1972.
There is also known a railway wagon comprising a flatcar with a plurality of wedges interacting with a plurality of fittings installed on containers in order to provide a safe and secure transportation of said containers, FR2704820 , B50P7/13, published on 10 November 1994.
There is also known a container having a frame with posts provided with consoles to transport timber, DE202007007902 , B61D3/08, published on 30 August 2007.
There is also known a tank container configured to be directly secured on vehicle loading surfaces, wherein one of two fittings present at opposite ends of the container is attached rigidly while the other one can be pivoted between an operating position and a position of rest, EP0519234 , published on 13 December 1992.
A common technical challenge among said devices is low utilization efficiency due to time-consuming processes of positioning and fixing removable freight modules on railway rolling stock comprising only fitting stops, which require accurate relative positioning of the freight modules locating elements and fitting stops having small coupling sizes and guide elements. Moreover, the devices mentioned above require substantial time and manual work to ensure operational condition of every fitting stop and fixing device. In all structures mentioned above, locating elements are placed on the railway rolling stock perimeter and rest on peripheral longitudinal, transverse, end girders, which are not strong and rigid enough and thus require additional construction reinforcement means, for example, in the form of ribs, bracing pieces, gussets, additional girders or covering plates.
The system according the invention:

improves efficiency of railroad infrastructure facilities due to decreasing time needed for freight modules installation and removal,
increases versatility of the system,
provides versatility of its application due to broader nomenclature of transported cargo by creating special purpose removable freight modules,
improves reliability of the system units due to redirection of force that transported removable freight modules apply from longitudinal side, transverse, and end girders of the rolling stock frame, as in known similar systems, directly to the center girder of the rolling stock frame, which is the strongest and the most rigid element of the load-carrying structure.

This is achieved by a transportation universal system for transporting removable freight modules with the technical features of claim 1.
The support bottom pivot bearings mounted on the railway rolling stock can be located on the central longitudinal axis of the railway rolling stock, and mating locating top pivot bearings fixed to the removable freight modules can be also located on the central longitudinal axis of a removable freight module.
The support bottom pivot bearings mounted on the railway rolling stock can be in the form of locating bushings with vertical guide openings having a diameter d₁ and configured to receive mating locating top pivot bearings, fixed to the removable freight modules in the form of guide pins having a diameter D; the support bottom pivot bearings mounted on the railway rolling stock can be vertical guide pins having a diameter D, wherein mating locating top pivot bearings fixed to removable freight modules are in the form of locating bushings with guide openings having a diameter d₁; wherein the diameter D of guide pins can be in a range of 50 to 350 mm and a height H is in a range of 45 to 380 mm; the diameter d₁ of the guide openings can be in a ratio range of 1.05 D to 1.46 D mm; an interaxial distance L_o ratio between the support top pivot bearings of removable freight modules and the body length L_k is in a range of 0.5 to 0.995.
The support bottom pivot bearings mounted of the railway rolling stock are fixed to the railway rolling stock center girder.
An articulated flatcar with its frames pivotally connected through an articulating assembly and mounted on a bogie is used as railway rolling stock for the proposed universal system for transporting removable freight modules; wherein articulated frame ends of the railway rolling stock are mounted on the middle common bogie.
To place one of the a removable freight modules into the area between flatcars above the articulated flatcar articulating assembly, there are additional locating retaining elements, configured for compensatory angular and linear movement relative to articulated frames, as the railway rolling stock passes curved tracks, mounted on the articulated ends of the frames; additional locating retaining elements can be fitting supports fixed to the rotatable bottom shelves mounted so as to allow rotation in a horizontal plane and compensatory linear movement parallel to the longitudinal central axis of the railway rolling stock frame, wherein ends of the rotatable bottom shelves are supported by wear resistant support plates.
Additional locating retaining elements can also be in the form of support bottom pivot bearings mounted on the articulated ends of railway rolling stock flatcar frames and designed for engagement with mating support top pivot bearings of the removable freight module, which is mounted in the area between flatcars above the articulated flatcar articulating assembly, wherein the support bottom pivot bearings mounted on articulated ends of railway rolling stock flatcar frames can be formed as a couple of locating bushings with an interaxial distance equal to the interaxial distance L_o between the support top pivot bearings of removable freight modules, when articulated flatcars are located linearly, wherein one of the bushings is fixed at one end of one of the articulated frames, and the second locating bushing is fixed at the end of the second of the articulated frames; openings of said bushings are formed as slot openings with increased longitudinal axial dimensions d₂, which are larger than the width d₁ for compensatory linear movement of the removable freight module guide pins, having a diameter D, in said slot opening, when railway rolling stock is passing curved tracks. In a particular embodiment the longitudinal axial dimension d₂ may be in total 50 - 100 mm larger than the width d₁ of slot openings. In a particular embodiment of the universal system of the invention said slot openings of the locating bushings are elliptical in shape, and the ellipsis long axis is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the railway rolling stock frames, having said locating bushings fixed thereto.
The support bottom pivot bearings are fixed to the center girders of corresponding railway rolling stock frames.
The support bottom pivot bearings can be vertical guide pins with a diameter D, designed to be received in the mating guide slot openings with a diameter d₁ and with a longitudinal dimension d₂. Moreover, the vertical guide pins of the support bottom pivot bearings can be also fixed to the center girders of articulated railway rolling stock frames.
Removable freight modules have side stop legs. The side stop legs have a height h, which is more than the height H of the locating top pivot bearings of removable freight modules, enabling to use the stop legs as support legs while mounting removable freight modules on the ground, or as stop guide elements while stacking removable freight modules on top of each other. Thus, the height h of the side stop legs may be in a range 150 - 500 mm.
A removable freight module may be in the form of a frame with side cargo stakes and end stop walls configured for transporting dimensional cargo, such as pipes, roundwood, lumber, rolled sections, or in the form of a sealed container box with side walls, end walls and a top configured for transporting different bulk cargoes, requiring protection against environmental exposure; wherein there may be loading hatches formed in the top of the container, wherein at least one of the end walls may have an unloading hatch in its bottom portion, or in the form of an open top container box configured for transporting different cargoes, not requiring protection against environmental exposure, or in the form of a tank having filling and depleting units, or in the form of a dump-car container having a body with drive equipment and a lever system for tilting the body and opening body sides, when unloading the dump-car container.
The present invention differs from the prototype in that support bottom pivot bearings mounted on railway rolling stock and configured for receiving mating locating top pivot bearings, fixed to removable freight modules, are used as locating retaining elements for removable freight modules, wherein the removable freight modules have side supports for resting on the railway rolling stock floor or frame; the support bottom pivot bearings mounted on the railway rolling stock are located on the railway rolling stock central longitudinal axis; mating locating top pivot bearings fixed to the removable freight modules are located on the removable freight module central longitudinal axis; support bottom pivot bearings mounted on the railway rolling stock are formed as locating bushings with vertical guide openings having a diameter d₁ and configured to receive the mating locating top pivot bearings, fixed to the removable freight modules, formed as guide pins with a diameter D; the support bottom pivot bearings mounted on the railway rolling stock can be formed as vertical guide pins having a diameter D, wherein mating locating top pivot bearings fixed to the removable freight modules are in the form of locating bushings with guide openings having a diameter d₁; the diameter D of guide pins is in a range of 50 to 350 mm and a height H is in a range of 45 to 380 mm; the diameter d₁ of the guide openings is in a ratio range of 1.05D to 1.46D mm; an interaxial distance L_o ratio between the support top pivot bearings of the removable freight modules and the body length L_k is in a range of 0.5 to 0.995; the support bottom pivot bearings mounted on the railway rolling stock are fixed to the railway rolling stock center girder; a flatcar with its body on a frame mounted on bogies is used as railway rolling stock; an articulated flatcar with its frames pivotally coupled through an articulating assembly and mounted on the bogies can be also used as railway rolling stock; articulated railway rolling stock frame ends are mounted on the middle common bogie; in order to place a removable freight module into the area between flatcars above the articulated flatcar articulating assembly, additional locating retaining elements are mounted on the articulated ends of frames, which elements allowing for compensatory angular and linear movement relative to articulated frames, when the railway rolling stock is passing curved tracks; additional locating retaining elements are formed as fitting supports fixed to the rotatable bottom shelves mounted so as to allow rotation in a horizontal plane and compensatory linear movement relative to the railway rolling stock frame, wherein ends of the rotatable bottom shelves are rest on wear resistant support plates; additional locating retaining elements formed as support bottom pivot bearings are mounted on articulated ends of the railway rolling stock flatcar frames; the support bottom pivot bearings mounted on articulated ends of the railway rolling stock flatcar frames are formed as a couple of locating bushings with an interaxial distance equal to the interaxial distance L_o between the support top pivot bearings of the removable freight modules in case of longitudinal arrangement of the articulated flatcars, wherein one of the bushings is fixed at one end of one of the articulated frames, the second locating bushing is fixed at an end of the second of the articulated frames; said locating bushings have a slot opening having a width d₁ and a longitudinal axial dimension d₂ for compensatory linear movement of the removable freight module guide pins, having a diameter D, within said slot opening, when the railway rolling stock is passing curved tracks; the longitudinal axial dimension d₂ may be in total 50 - 100 mm larger than the width d1 of the slot opening; the slot opening may be elliptical in shape, wherein the ellipsis long axis is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the railway rolling stock frame, having said locating bushings fixed thereto; the support bottom pivot bearings are fixed to the center girders of corresponding railway rolling stock frames; the support bottom pivot bearings may be formed as vertical guide pins, having a diameter D, configured to be received in the mating guide slot openings of removable freight modules; the vertical guide pins of the support bottom pivot bearings are fixed to the center girders of the railway rolling stock articulated frames; removable freight modules comprise side stop legs; the side stop legs have a height h, which is larger than the height H of the locating top pivot bearings of the removable freight modules, allowing to use them as legs, when installing removable freight modules on the ground, or as stop guide elements while stacking removable freight modules on top of each other; the height h of the side stop legs is in a range of 150 to 500 mm; the removable freight module is in the form of a frame with side cargo stakes and end stop walls, and designed for transporting dimensional cargo, such as pipes, roundwood, lumber, rolled sections; the removable freight module is in the form of a sealed container box with side walls, end walls and a top, and designed for transporting different bulk cargoes, requiring protection against environmental exposure; there are loading hatches formed in the top of the container, wherein at least one of the end walls has an unloading hatch in its bottom portion; the removable freight module is in the form of an open top container box designed for transporting different cargoes, not requiring protection against environmental exposure; the removable freight module is in the form of a tank having filling and depleting units; the removable freight module is in the form of a dump-cart container having a body with drive equipment and a lever system for tilting the body and opening body sides, when unloading the dump-cart container.
The present invention is illustrated in the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a general view of a universal system for transporting freight modules, one of the possible embodiments in the form of an articulated railway flatcar, loaded with an embodiment of removable freight modules;
Fig. 2 shows a top view of an articulated flatcar with removable freight modules not shown;
Fig. 3 shows an isometric view of the same;
Fig. 4 shows an isometric view of the same with the flatcar floor omitted for clarity;
Fig. 5 shows a top view of the same with the floor and rotatable bottom shelves not shown for clarity;
Fig. 6 shows a detail section "A" from Fig. 5;
Fig. 7 shows a bottom isometric view of a removable freight module in the form of a container box;
Fig. 8 shows an isometric view of the detail section "B" from Fig. 7;
Fig. 9 shows an isometric view of a flatcar end with automatic coupling omitted for clarity;
Fig. 10 shows a cross-sectional isometric view of a flatcar with a mounted removable freight module with side cargo stakes, wherein automatic coupling is omitted for clarity;
Fig. 11 shows an isometric view of a rotatable bottom shelf, wherein the flatcar floor is omitted for clarity;
Fig. 12 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of a removable freight module locating element formed as a guide bushing;
Fig. 13 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of a locating element mounted on the flatcar frame in the form of a guide pin, wherein the flatcar floor is not shown for clarity;
Fig. 14 shows a general isometric view of an exemplary application of the universal system for transporting different removable freight modules.

A universal transportation system for removable freight modules comprises railway rolling stock, for example in the form of a flatcar, articulated flatcars 1 (Fig. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6), which are used for mounting, fixing and transporting various removable freight modules 2, intended for various cargoes, on it.
The railway rolling stock is equipped with elements for locating and retaining removable freight modules 2.
Support bottom pivot bearings located on the railway rolling stock and configured to receive mating locating top pivot bearings, fixed to removable freight modules, are used as such removable freight modules 2 locating retaining elements.
Removable freight modules are equipped with side supports 2.1 (Fig. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11) for resting on the railway rolling stock floor 1.1 or frame 1.2.
The support bottom pivot bearings mounted on the railway rolling stock are located on the railway rolling stock central longitudinal axis, wherein the mating locating top pivot bearings fixed to removable freight modules 2, 2.2 are also located on the central longitudinal axis of the removable freight modules 2, 2.2.
The support bottom pivot bearings mounted on the railway rolling stock are formed as locating bushings 3 with vertical guide openings 3.1 having a diameter d₁ and configured to receive mating locating top pivot bearings, fixed to the removable freight modules and formed as guide pins 4 having a diameter D.
In an embodiment of the system, the support bottom pivot bearings mounted on the railway rolling stock may be formed as vertical guide pins 5 having a diameter D, wherein in this case the mating locating top pivot bearings fixed to the removable freight modules 2 should be in the form of locating bushings 6 with guide openings 6.1 having a diameter d₁. The guide pins 4, 5 may have a diameter D in a range of 50 to 350 mm, and a height H in a range of 45 to 380 mm, the guide openings 3.1, 6.1 may have a diameter d₁ within a ratio range of 1.05D to 1.46D mm, which is from 47 to 555 mm. Providing the guide pins 4, 5 with the diameter D less than 45 mm does not provide them with required durability and can lead to the guide pins 4, 5 breaking under the load, applied to the removable freight modules 2. The diameter D of more than 555 mm requires a larger width of the center girder 1.2.1, or reinforced construction of load-carrying frames of the removable freight modules 2, 2.2 (Fig. 12, 13, 14).
The interaxial distance L_o ratio between the support top pivot bearings of the removable freight modules and the body length L_k is in a range of 0.5 to 0.995 in order to reliably mount the removable freight modules 2 on the railway rolling stock. The ratio of more than 0.995 will move the support top pivot bearings to an end of the removable freight module body, which does not provide for a reliable connection between the support top pivot bearings and the frame of removable freight modules 2, 2.2. The ratio of less than 0.5 will not provide transversal stability of the removable freight module 2, 2.2 on the railway rolling stock.
The most reliable location of the support bottom pivot bearings on the railway rolling stock frame provides improved system reliability due to transferring forces of the transported removable freight modules 2 directly to the center girder 1.2.1 of the frame 1.2, which is the most durable and rigid element of the railway rolling stock load-carrying construction.
A flatcar, an articulated flatcar may be used as railway rolling stock. An articulated flatcar can be articulated with a common middle bogie.
Using the articulated bogie may allow locating the removable freight module 2.2 in the area between the flatcars above the articulating assembly. For this, additional locating retaining elements configured for compensatory angular and linear movement relative to articulated frames, when the railway rolling stock is passing curved tracks, are mounted at articulated ends of the frames.
The additional locating retaining elements may be formed as fitting supports 7, fixed to the rotatable bottom shelves 7.1 mounted so as to allow rotation in a horizontal plane and compensatory linear movement relative to the frame 1.2 of the railway rolling stock, wherein ends of the rotatable bottom shelves 7.1 are supported by wear resistant support plates 7.2. The fitting supports 7 are located on the frame 1.2 as well.
The additional locating retaining elements may be formed as additional support bottom pivot bearings mounted on articulated ends of the frames 1.2 of the railway rolling stock flatcar.
The additional support bottom pivot bearings are configured to engage mating support top pivot bearings of the removable freight module 2.2 mountable in the area between flatcars above the articulated flatcar articulating assembly.
The additional support bottom pivot bearings are formed as a couple of locating bushings 8 having an interaxial distance equal to the interaxial distance L_o between the support top pivot bearings of the removable freight modules 2.2, when articulated flatcars are located linearly.
Openings of the locating bushings 8 are formed as slot openings with a width d₁ and a length d₂ for compensatory linear movement of removable freight module 2.2 guide pins 4, when the railway rolling stock is passing curved tracks. The slot opening length d₂ is in total from 50 to 100 mm larger than its width d₁. Said opening 8.1 may have an elliptical shape, wherein the ellipsis long axis is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the railway rolling stock frame, having said locating bushings 8 fixed thereto. Said additional support bottom pivot bearings 8 are also fixed to the center girders 1.2.1 of the corresponding railway rolling stock frames 1.2.
In an embodiment of the proposed system, the additional support bottom pivot bearings located on articulated ends of the frames 1.2 of the railway rolling stock flatcar 1 may be formed as vertical guide pins 5. In order to provide compensatory linear movement, said pins may have an oval shape with the major axis of the ellipse perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the railway rolling stock frame, or mating slot openings formed in the removable freight modules may have an elliptical shape, with the major axis of the ellipse parallel to the removable freight module longitudinal axis.
The removable freight modules 2, 2.2 can be equipped with side stop legs 2.3 having a height h, which is larger than the height H of the removable freight modules locating top pivot bearings. This enables to use side stop legs 2.3 as supports while mounting removable freight modules 2, 2.2 on the ground, or as stop guide elements while stacking the removable freight modules on top of each other. The height h of the side stop legs 2.3 may be in a range 150 - 500 mm.
Constructions of the removable modules are defined by the cargo type, transported therein.
Thus, for transporting dimensional cargo, such as pipes, roundwood, lumber, rolled sections, the removable freight module 9 is formed as a frame with side cargo stakes 9.1 and end stop walls 9.2.
A removable freight module in the form of a sealed container box 10 with side walls, end walls and a top is intended for transporting various bulk cargoes, requiring protection against environmental exposure. Loading hatches 10.1 may be formed in the top of the container 10, wherein at least one of the end walls may have an unloading hatch (not shown) in its bottom portion.
A removable freight module in the form of an open top container box 11 is intended for cargoes, not requiring protection against environmental exposure.
Also, removable freight modules may be formed as a tank (not shown) having filling and depleting units, as a dump-car container having a body with drive equipment and a lever system for tilting the body and opening its sides, when unloading the dump-car container (now shown).
The universal system for transporting the removable freight modules is used as follows.
A corresponding removable freight module is chosen according to the type of transported cargo.
A removable freight module is gripped with hoisting machines (now shown), raised and mounted, e.g. on an articulated flatcar 1. When lowering the removable freight module on the articulated flatcar 1 with the help of side stop legs 2.3, which seize side longitudinal girders 1.2.2 of the frame 1.2, a removable freight module, e.g. the removable freight module 2, is oriented along the articulated flatcar 1 central longitudinal axis.
After placing guide pins 4 over guide bushings 3 or 8, the removable freight module 2 in lowered on the flatcar until side supports 2.2 touch the floor 1.1 or the frame 1.2 directly. After this, the removable freight module 2 is clearly oriented and fixed on flatcar 1. The rest of the removable freight modules are mounted in a similar fashion.
Since a minimal amount of locating retaining elements is used for locating, mounting, and fixing the removable freight modules, the removable freight modules are quickly loaded on the railway rolling stock and unloaded off it.
When removable freight modules without guide pins 4 are used, corresponding fitting stops 7 are used for locating removable freight modules.
To mount the removable freight module 2.2 in the area between flatcars above an articulating assembly, rotatable bottom shelves 7.1, mounted so as to allow rotation in a horizontal plane and compensatory linear movement relative to the corresponding frames, are used. In order to preserve operability, ends of the rotatable bottom shelves 7.1 are are resting on wear resistant support plates 7.2.
When the railway rolling stock is passing curved tracks, articulated flatcars 1 mutually turn at the articulating assembly. Meanwhile, the distance between the fitting stops 7 of the rotatable bottom shelves 7.1 of adjacent articulated flatcars 1 is changed. The rotatable bottom shelves 7.1 turn in a horizontal plane at their pivoting units 7.1.1 and 7.1.2 in order to compensate such a turn and a change in the distance between the fitting stops 7. Wherein the presence of the compensatory gap between the elements of said pivoting units causes the rotatable bottom shelves 7.1 to turn in a horizontal plane and move in a longitudinal direction of the corresponding flatcars. After having passed the curved tracks, the rotatable bottom shelves 7.1 return to their initial neutral position.
Construction of the proposed system allows omitting rotatable bottom shelves 7.1. For this, the rotatable shelves 7.1 are turned in a vertical plane at the pivot 7.1.2, defining a single floor 1.1 area. Moreover, the flatcar may be used for transporting various cargoes on the floor 1.1, as well as cargoes, requiring non-removable or collapsible fitting stops 7.
Construction of the universal system for transporting freight modules also contemplates reverse positioning of the locating elements - the guide bushings 6 - on the bottom of the removable freight modules, and the guide pins 5 - on the center girder 1.2.1 of the railway rolling stock frame 1.2. This possibility of different locating elements placement significantly broadens technological opportunities for manufacturing and usage of the proposed system.
An exemplary application of the proposed universal system for transporting various removable freight modules is illustrated in Fig. 14.
Thus, the proposed universal removable freight modules transportation system significantly improves utilization efficiency of the railroad infrastructure facilities, such as railway rolling stock, hoisting equipment involved, allowing to decrease removable freight modules installation time, increases versatility and widens nomenclature of transported removable freight modules, improves reliability of the load-carrying structural elements due to applying forces from the transported removable freight modules directly to the frame center girder, which is the strongest and the most rigid element of the railway rolling stock load-carrying structure, and improves general performance of the railway rolling stock.

Claims

A universal transportation system for transporting removable freight modules (2, 2.2) for transporting various types of cargo,
the modules (2, 2.2) comprising mating locating top pivot bearings fixed thereon and having side supports (2.1) for resting on a railway rolling stock floor (1.1) or frame (1.2), the system comprising
a railway rolling stock being an articulated flatcar configured for installing, fixing and transporting the removable freight modules (2, 2.2) thereon, wherein
the railway rolling stock is provided with elements for locating and retaining the removable freight modules,
characterised in that said elements comprise support bottom pivot bearings, mounted on the frames (1.2) of the railway rolling stock flatcars (1) and configured to engage with the mating locating top pivot bearings of the removable freight modules (2), and
additional support bottom pivot bearings mounted on the articulated ends of the frames (1.2) of the railway rolling stock flatcars (1), configured to engage with mating locating top pivot bearings of the removable freight module (2.2) mounted in the area between flatcars (1) above the articulated flatcar articulating assembly, and to compensate angular and linear movement of the top pivot bearings of the freight module (2.2) relative to the frames (1.2).
The universal transportation system according to claim 1, characterized in that the support bottom pivot bearings and additional support bottom pivot bearings mounted on the frames (1.2) of the railway rolling stock flatcars (1) are fixed to the center girder (1.2.1) of the corresponding railway rolling stock flatcar (1) frames (1.2).
The universal transportation system according to claim 1, characterized in that the support bottom pivot bearings mounted on the frames (1.2) of the railway rolling stock flatcars (1) are formed as locating bushings (3) with vertical guide openings having a diameter d₁ and the mating locating top pivot bearings fixed to the removable freight modules (2) are formed as vertical guide pins (5) having a diameter D, wherein the guide openings of the locating bushings (3) are configured to receive the guide pins (5).
The universal transportation system according to claim 1, characterized in that the additional support bottom pivot bearings mounted on the articulated ends of the frames (1.2) of the railway rolling stock flatcars (1) are formed as vertical guide pins (5) having a diameter D.
The universal transportation system according to any of claims 3, 4, characterized in that the diameter D of the guide pins (5) is in a range of 50 to 350 mm and a height H is in a range of 45 to 380 mm.
The universal transportation system according to any of claims 3, 4, characterized in that the diameter d₁ of the guide openings of the locating bushings (3) to the guide pins (5) diameter D ratio is in a range of 1.05 to 1.46.
The universal transportation system according to claim 1, characterized in that the railway rolling stock is a flatcar (1) with its body on a frame (1.2) mounted on bogies.
The universal transportation system according to claim 1, characterized in that the frames (1.2) of the articulated flatcar pivotally coupled through an articulating assembly and mounted on the bogies.
The universal transportation system according to claim 1, characterized in that articulated railway rolling stock frame (1.2) ends are mounted on the middle common bogie.
The universal transportation system according to claim 1, characterized in that the additional support bottom pivot bearings mounted on articulated ends of the railway rolling stock flatcar (1) frames (1.2) are formed as a couple of locating bushings (8), wherein one of the bushings (8) is fixed at one end of one of the articulated frames (1.2), the second locating bushing (8) is fixed at an end of the second of the articulated frames.
The universal transportation system according to claim 10, characterized in that the mating locating top pivot bearings fixed to the removable freight modules (2.2) are formed as vertical guide pins (5) having a diameter D, and openings of the locating bushings (8) are formed as a slot opening with a width d₁ and a length d₂, which is larger than the width d₁ for compensatory movement of the removable freight module (2.2) guide pins (5), having a diameter D, within said openings.
The universal transportation system according to claim 10, characterized in that the length d₂ is in total 50 - 100 mm larger than the width d₁.
The universal transportation system according to any of claims 11-12, characterized in that the slot opening of the locating bushings (8) is elliptical in shape, wherein the ellipsis long axis is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the railway rolling stock flatcar (1) frame (1.2), having said locating bushings (8) fixed thereto.
The universal transportation system according to claim 4, characterized in that the mating locating top pivot bearings fixed to the removable freight modules (2.2) are formed as locating bushings (6) with guide openings (6.1), wherein the vertical guide pins (5) are configured to be received in the mating guide openings (6.1) of the removable freight modules (2.2).